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Case Study/Video: Climate Change, Food, and 'Sharing' among the Iñupiat of Wainwright, Alaska

Author: Karim_aly Kassam Source: Kassam Research Group, Cornell University
Initial Publication Date: April 29, 2016

Summary

This web based case study w/video illustrates how local (indigenous) knowledge can work in tandem with ecological science. It directly links the socio-cultural with the ecological for responding to practical problems such as climate change.


Learning Goals

The significance of this article is that the majority of research on the impact on climate change is at the global and regional scale with very little applicability for planning at the level of towns and villages.

My research group and I have been deeply concerned about building anticipatory capacity in mountain communities where the impact is most immediate. In this article we show a culturally relevant mechanism using an ancient and phenologically relevant system of keeping time in Pamir Mountains to help anticipate climatic variation.

Context for Use

See Teaching Notes.

Description and Teaching Materials

Watch Video >> Climate Change, Food, and 'Sharing' among the Iñupiat of Wainwright, Alaska

Video (MP4 Video 85.7MB Jul10 15)

Climate Change, Food, and 'Sharing' among the Iñupiat of Wainwright, Alaska from HabitatSeven on Vimeo.

Review Case Study >> Climate change, food, and 'sharing' among the Iñupiat of Wainwright, Alaska

Teaching Notes and Tips

This video and case study on climate change should be viewed together.

Assessment

Assessment is at the discretion of the educator and how this resource is applied.

References and Resources

Wilson, N., Ruelle, M., Baumflek, M., Liao, C., & Kassam, K-A. 2011. Climate Change, Food, and 'Sharing' among the Iñupiat of Wainwright, Alaska.

Hopson, J., Kassam, K-A., Herring, J. 2011. Climate change, food, and 'sharing' among the Iñupiat of Wainwright

Citation

Kassam, K. (2012). Case Study/Video: Climate Change, Food, and 'Sharing' among the Iñupiat of Wainwright, Alaska.

Source (broken): http://www2.dnr.cornell.edu/kassam/students3.html

Source (current): http://www2.dnr.cornell.edu/kassam/students.html